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Swedish police to increase its fight against file-sharing

By EDRi · April 10, 2013

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: [Schwedische Polizei will härter gegen File-Sharer vorgehen | https://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_11.7_Schwedische_Polizei_will_haerter_gegen_File-Sharer_vorgehen?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20130410]

In a recent report, Sweden’s National Police Board proposes measures
meant to increase its performance in fighting copyright infringements,
as a result of meetings with entertainment company rightsholders. The
changes proposed include the creation of a team focused on intellectual
property crimes and additional, more accessible forensic resources for a
more successful prosecution of copyright infringement cases.

The rightsholders had told the police that they could report
“significantly more crimes” (referring of course to alleged online
copyright infringements) if the police were better equipped and they
also complained that the police response times were too long. Another
complaint was that, in their opinion, the police investigators lacked
technical competence leading to a lower quality of the investigations.
The structure and organization of the police systems and personnel was
also in question and the rightholders suggested that there was a need of
more investigators, police officers, forensic staff and civilians involved.

As a result, the Swedish police proposes the creation of a single
central group focused on the protection of intellectual property.
Considering that intellectual property investigations are “often
expensive and complicated”, the report says that such a collective group
“would facilitate the prioritization of cases and also facilitate the
contact with prosecutors and external parties, such as plaintiffs,
international authorities and agencies. The group would consist of “a
head, investigators, administrative assistance and designated IT
forensic staff linked to the group. With the current starting point it
is reasonable for the group to consist of around 20 people.”

Swedish Police Promise More Resources to Catch File-Sharers (4.04.2013)
http://torrentfreak.com/swedish-police-promise-more-resources-to-catch-file-sharers-130404/

Police authorities handling cases on IPR violations (only in Swedish,
24.02.2013)
http://www.polisen.se/Global/www%20och%20Intrapolis/Rapporter-utredningar/01%20Polisen%20nationellt/Ovriga%20rapporter-utredningar/Inspektioner-tillsyns%20rapporter/2013/Tillsynsrapp_immaterialrattsliga_brott_2_130402.pdf